When a woman finds a lump in her breast, the first thing she usually thinks is that it is breast cancer. It is a logical reaction; indeed, we must always be attentive to changes in our body that may indicate a problem and go to the specialist to carry out an adequate assessment. However, it is important to know that these lumps are mostly not synonymous with cancer, as they are benign lesions.
Especially in women of childbearing age (approximately between 18 and 40), the appearance of lumps is very common, especially linked to the menstrual cycle. In most cases, treatment is unnecessary since they usually disappear independently. If they appear in older people, it is more likely that there is a problem, although it does not have to be that way, either.
The most important thing if we detect a suspicious lump in the breast is to consult our doctor as soon as possible since, in the case of cancer, rapid detection is essential to achieve a good prognosis for the disease.
Types of breast lumps and their causes
Next, we will talk about other causes, in addition to cancer, that causes the appearance of lumps in the breast.
Breast cysts
Breast cysts are one of the most common causes of consultation. They are rounded lesions that form when a milk duct dilates and fills with fluid. Its frequency increases after age 35, reaching a maximum incidence between the ages of 40 and 50.
Its most frequent clinical manifestation is the self-palpation of a lump that appears suddenly and is somewhat painful. They are characterized by being round, somewhat mobile and with smooth walls. They are influenced by hormonal changes, which is why the most common thing is that they appear before menstruation and become smaller or disappear on their own after the period.
In most cases, they do not require treatment. But sometimes, if they get big, they can become annoying because they cause pressure on the surrounding breast tissue, which can cause pain, so sometimes it is necessary to puncture them to drain the fluid and thus alleviate the symptoms.
If part of the cyst is solid or firm or does not disappear after menstruation, it may be something more than a cyst, and, therefore, it is better to consult a specialist.
Fibrocystic changes
Fibrocystic breast disease makes the breast more tender with lumpy or rough areas. These changes are related to the menstrual cycle and tend to improve after menstruation.
It usually does not require medical treatment. Certain measures, such as the use of appropriate bras in terms of shape and size, which guarantee adequate breast support, and the reduction in the consumption of foods that contain methylxanthines (coffee, chocolate, tea) and fats, together with the incorporation of the consumption of vitamin E, B1 and B6 can help improve symptoms.
Fat necrosis
After trauma (seat belt injury, after a breast biopsy or breast surgery), inflammation and fibrosis can cause the appearance of a painful lump in the breast, known as fat necrosis.
Infections
Infections or mastitis are also a cause of pain, redness of the skin and the appearance of a lump in the breast. They normally occur during periods of lactation, but their appearance outside lactation is also possible. It can be complicated by the formation of abscesses, painful lumps caused when infected fluid accumulates in the breast tissue.
Fibroadenomas
Fibroadenomas are very common solid tumors of the breast, especially in adolescents and young women, although they can appear at any age.
In most cases, it presents as a single, well-defined, mobile, painless nodule. Although in up to 10-20% of cases, they can be multiple and appear in both breasts.
Before any solid nodule of new appearance, one should be prudent and rule out that it is not a malignant tumor. For this reason, even if the exploration suggests a fibroadenoma, it should always be complemented with some imaging test, ultrasound of the breast and mammography and eventual guided biopsy to confirm its benign nature.
In general, they can be controlled and are usually removed in cases where there is growth, or they cause pain, aesthetic alteration or concern to the patient.
Lipoma
A lipoma is a soft, non-cancerous lump that can usually be moved. It does not cause pain. It is a benign fatty tumor.
Intraductal papilloma’s
Intraductal papillomata are benign lesions that originate in the ducts of the breast. The clinic they give is usually discharged from the nipple, often with a hemorrhagic appearance (bloody discharge). Its removal and biopsy are recommended to rule out malignancy.
Breast cancer
The appearance of a painless, hard lump in the breast with an irregular or poorly defined contour is a suspicious nodule that requires ruling out breast cancer. Breast cancer does not usually hurt; in less than 2-7% of breast cancer cases, the clinical manifestation is pain, especially in the initial stages of the disease.
It is also important to pay attention to other visible changes in the breast, such as dimpling, depressions or redness in the skin, changes in the size or shape of the breast or discharge from the nipple.
The importance of breast self-examination
Breast self-examination allows the patient to get to know her breasts better. It is essential to know each other to detect changes in our bodies. Breast self-examination should be a routine procedure with some frequency, preferably during the week after menstruation. In the case of menopausal women, it is advisable to choose one day a month to do so. It only takes a few minutes to do it. Here we leave you everything you need to know to do a breast self-examination.
It is always recommended to pay more attention to the breasts after age 40, but the truth is that breast examination should be part of regular gynecological control.
All women should perform breast self-examination, but above all, it becomes more relevant in those with a family history of breast cancer or patients with BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants.
Breast self-examination is a useful and essential screening method, especially when combined with mammograms and regular physical examinations by specialists. Thanks to it, warning signs such as lumps, nipple retraction, or changes in the breast’s shape, size, or color can be detected.
What to do if you notice a lump in your breast? Types of breast lumps
As we have seen, breast lumps can have different shapes and manifest differently. The mammary tissue is itself fibrous, of variable consistency. When palpating the breasts, they can appear sensitive and somewhat painful, with bulging areas likely to disappear with the menstrual period.
When we locate lumps in the chest, we have to see if it is:
- Round and smooth lumps, like a somewhat painful ball on palpation (probably a cyst).
- Solid lumps that can be moved under the skin, not painful (may be a fibroadenoma).
- Hard lumps, little mobile and irregularly shaped. It could be a malignant tumor, especially if changes in the shape of the breast, skin, and nipple accompany them.
- We must look at the shape and size of the breasts: observe if one of the breasts has a different shape or is of a different size.
- Pay attention to whether the skin has dimples in the shape of orange peel and is irritated, with redness. Observe if there are changes in the texture, especially around the nipple.
- We must assess whether there are changes in the shape of the nipple, especially if it is suddenly inverted or flattened and if there is a fluid secretion from it.
- Early detection of breast cancer is essential to achieve a cure for this disease, and in it, breast self-examination is essential apart from mammograms.
Remember to maintain a common control to detect lumps in the chest, and do not hesitate to consult your specialist in case of any suspicion or abnormality.